Smart metering data across utilities

Smart meters across electricity, gas, water and heat generate detailed consumption data. This guide covers smart-metering data and how to source it responsibly.

Why smart-metering data matters

Interval consumption data, by half-hour or finer, supports forecasting, flexibility, billing, efficiency and analytics across all utilities. It is among the most granular operational data available.

The data landscape

• Interval consumption: time-stamped usage.
• Profiles: patterns by segment.
• Aggregates: by area or zone.
• Quality: meter health and estimates.

Privacy and access

Meter data tied to a household is personal and revealing, so the GDPR applies and aggregation or consent is required. The EU Data Act also shapes access to metering and connected-device data.

Common use cases

Demand forecasting and flexibility, billing and settlement, efficiency and benchmarking, and network analytics.

Sourcing considerations

Definitions, intervals and quality vary across utilities and operators, so harmonisation matters. Customer-linked data needs aggregation or consent, and provenance is essential.

In a managed model

A managed partner can source and harmonise smart-metering data across utilities with appropriate aggregation.

Granular and personal

Interval metering data, by half-hour or finer, is among the most granular operational data, but meter data tied to a household is personal and revealing, so the GDPR applies and aggregation or consent is required. The EU Data Act also shapes access to metering and connected-device data.

Harmonise across utilities

Definitions, intervals and quality vary across utilities and operators, so harmonisation is central, and provenance is essential for billing, forecasting and analytics.

Sources & further reading

• EUR-Lex: Electricity Directive and Data Act on metering.
• ENTSO-E and operator data.
• Eurostat: energy and water statistics.
• EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR).